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Biomedical subjects

M Mars

Publications and source records attributed to M Mars.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Hypertension in a cohort of African children with renal tumours.

Hypertension is a frequent problem in children with renal tumour, yet there are few reports from centres in the third world. A retrospective study of blood pressure in a cohort of 46 patients with renal tumours seen over a 3-year period was carried out. Fifty percent of patients presenting with Wilms' tumour were hypertensive. Serum concentrations of active renin correlated poorly with blood pressure. There was no correlation between serum concentrations of active renin and tumour mass or histology. Specific antihypertensive therapy was offered to 11 patients who had either neurological or cardiac complications of hypertension. All other patients with Wilms' tumour had their blood pressure controlled by neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Patients with mesoblastic nephroma were managed by primary surgery. Patients with asymptomatic hypertension may be monitored as hypertension will resolve with neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Those with compelling symptomatology will require additional hypertensive medication.

Africa↗
PubMed2006

Fasting leptin and appetite responses induced by a 4-day 65%-energy-restricted diet.

OBJECTIVE: Animal studies show that the leptin decline after acute severe caloric restriction is a peripheral signal to increase food intake. However, most human studies have failed to observe such a relationship. We studied the acute effects of severe caloric restriction on the association between serum leptin concentrations and subjective appetite. SUBJECTS: A total of 44 healthy adult men (aged: 43 +/- 5 years; BMI: 27.3 +/- 3.2 kg/m(2)). MEASUREMENTS: Fasting serum leptin concentrations and self-perceived appetite levels were measured during a 4-day diet containing 36% of the estimated energy requirements. Appetite levels were assessed with a 10-point Likert scale, reflecting hunger, fullness, desire to eat, prospective consumption and total appetite. RESULTS: After the 4-day energy deficit, fasting leptin concentrations decreased by 39.4% (95% CI: -43.6; -34.9%). This decline was associated with an increase in fasting hunger (r = -0.42; P < 0.01), desire to eat (r = -0.39; P < 0.05) and total appetite (r = -0.38; P < 0.05). Furthermore, the association between fasting leptin concentrations and fasting appetite levels became stronger during the energy restriction period (for total appetite: day 0 r = -0.15, P = 0.32; day 2 r = -0.31, P =< 0.05; day 4 r = -0.41, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The acute proportional reduction in fasting leptin after 4-day energy restriction is associated with an increase in self-perceived appetite. Additionally, the inverse association between proportional fasting leptin concentrations and self-perceived appetite response becomes stronger as energy restriction is prolonged. These findings suggest that leptin has an instrumental role in restoring energy balance in humans through the expression of appetite.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Telemedicine in veterinary practice.

Veterinary surgeons have a long tradition of consulting one another about problem cases and many have unwittingly practised telemedicine when discussing cases by telephone or by sending laboratory reports by telefax. Specific veterinary telemedicine applications have been in use since the early 1980s, but little research has been undertaken in this field. The Pubmed and CAB International databases were searched for the following Boolean logic-linked keywords; veterinary and telemedicine, veterinary and telecare, animal and telemedicine, animal and telecare and veterinary and e-mail and an additional search was made of the worldwide web, using Google Scholar. This returned 25 papers which were reviewed. Of these only 2 report research. Sixteen papers had no references and 1 author was associated with 13 papers. Several themes emerge in the papers reviewed. These include remarks about the use of telemedicine, the benefits that can and are derived from the use of telemedicine, areas of practice in which telemedicine is being used, ethical and legal issues around the practice of telemedicine, image standards required for telemedicine, the equipment that is required for the practice of telemedicine, advice on ways in which digital images can be obtained and educational aspects of telemedicine. These are discussed. Veterinary practice has lagged behind its human counterpart in producing research on the validity and efficacy of telemedicine. This is an important field which requires further research.

Computer Communication Networks↗
PubMed2004

Shoulder pathoanatomy in marathon kayakers.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of soft and hard tissue abnormalities and their interrelations in the shoulders of marathon kayakers and to examine the pathoanatomical factors that predispose these athletes to injury. METHODS: Fifty two long distance kayakers completed a questionnaire. Their shoulders were examined for range of motion, pain, and stability using a standard set of 10 clinical tests. The shoulder was subsequently scanned by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in three planes and evaluated for evidence of injury or other abnormality. The relation of clinical symptoms and MRI findings was investigated with respect to kayaker's age, number of years kayaking, and number of marathon races completed. RESULTS: Thirty subjects were asymptomatic at the time of scanning, and twenty two showed symptoms of pain and/or instability. MRI showed acromioclavicular hypertrophy, acromial or clavicular spur, supraspinatus tendinitis, and partial tear of the supraspinatus as the most common abnormalities. Kayaker's age, number of years kayaking, and number of races completed did not relate significantly to symptoms or to the presence of an abnormality on MRI scan. Of all the pathoanatomical findings that are reported to predispose to rotator cuff injury, only acromial and clavicular spurs were found to correlate highly with supraspinatus muscle pathology. CONCLUSIONS: Rotator cuff injuries make up a large portion of the injuries seen in marathon kayakers, about twice the number reported for sprint kayakers. These injuries are the result of secondary impingement factors associated with overuse, possibly specific to kayakers, and not the result of bony restrictions around the shoulder joint. Acromioclavicular hypertrophy is a common finding in marathon kayakers, but is possibly the result of portaging or a previous injury.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Leptin and insulin responses to a four-day energy-deficient diet in men with different weight history.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the leptin responses to a 4-day energy-restricted diet in men with different weight history; high retrospective weight gain was expected to be associated with a small decline in leptin. DESIGN: Changes in fasting leptin and insulin were measured during a 4-day controlled intervention, in which men with high retrospective weight gain and men who had stable weight consumed 35% of their estimated energy needs. SUBJECTS: A total of 44 healthy men (age: 31-52 y, BMI: 22.7-39.8 kg/m(2)) were recruited from a cohort study: 22 men who had gained weight (weight change >1 kg/y) and 22 men whose weight had remained stable (weight change +/-0.3 kg/y) between the first (1987-1991) and the second measurement (1993-1997) of the cohort study. The intervention study was carried out in 2001. RESULTS: After intervention, changes in fasting leptin levels were similar for both groups of retrospective weight gain: -2.2 microlU/ml (95% CI: -2.8; -1.7) and -2.4 microlU/ml (95% CI: -3.2; -1.7) respectively (P=0.69). Proportional changes in fasting leptin levels were different: -43.3% (95% CI: -47.8; -38.4) in the participants whose weight had remained stable (n=22) and -35.2% (95% CI: -42.4; -27.1) in those who had gained weight (n=22)(P<0.05). Analyses in a subgroup of men (n=18), in which the contrast in weight history was more pronounced than in the total group, did not show this difference. A higher proportional decrease in insulin levels was seen in men whose weight remained stable than in those who had gained weight: -35.4% (95% CI: -46.9; -21.3) and -12.8% (95% CI: -28.1; 5.7), respectively. The proportional decrease in leptin was positively associated with the proportional decrease in insulin (r=0.52; P<0.05). The decrease in leptin was positively associated with preintervention body weight (r=0.36; P<0.05), BMI (r=0.44; P<0.05), and waist-circumference (r=0.46; P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Although we found that the 4-day energy restriction had a smaller effect on the decrease in leptin in men with retrospective weight gain, our study does not show convincing evidence that men who gained weight are less leptin responsive to changes in energy balance than those who were weight stable.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Signature change on the brane.

We explore the possibility of having a good description of classical signature change in the brane scenario.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

Optimal time of arrival for performance at moderate altitude (1700 m).

PURPOSE: The time course of physiological exercise responses after acute ascent to moderate altitude was investigated. METHODS: Fifteen young male subjects (16.5 +/- 0.8 yr) completed one familiarization and then two further sea level sessions to determine sea level values (SL). Subjects were then tested 6 h (ALT1), 18 h (ALT2), and 47 h (ALT3) after arrival at 1700 m. Subjects completed a 5-min submaximal cycle test, shuttle run test, and 45-s repeated push-up test. Hemoglobin (Hb) and hematocrit (Hct) were measured. RESULTS: Cycle test heart rate (HR) was higher at ALT1 than SL (182 +/- 15 vs 177 +/- 16 b.min(-1), P < 0.01) but had returned to 177 +/- 13 and 176 +/- 12 b.min(-1) at ALT2 and ALT3, respectively. At ALT1, only five subjects completed the full 5 min. Postexercise plasma lactate was not different. Shuttle test HR was higher at ALT1 than SL (191 +/- 8 vs 185 +/- 14 b.min(-1), P = 0.01) but had returned to 185 +/- 10 and 183 +/- 16 b.min(-1) at ALT2 and ALT3. Shuttle run time (SRT) was 37% shorter at ALT1 than SL (251 +/- 134 vs 401 +/- 115 s, P < 0.001) and remained impaired at ALT2 and ALT3 (330 +/- 124 and 344 +/- 115 s, both P < 0.001 vs SL). There was a significant relationship between magnitude of increased HR and reduction in SRT between SL and ALT1 (r = 0.52, P < 0.05). Push-up HR, Hb, and Hct were not affected by altitude. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that detrimental effects of acute ascent to 1700 m on exercise performance are greater after 6 h than after 18 or 47 h. Performance was not entirely restored to SL values even after 47 h, despite restoration of easily measured physiological parameters. The results suggest travel to moderate altitude should occur as early as is practical before competition.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed2001

Genetic diversity of Sinorhizobium populations recovered from different medicago varieties cultivated in Tunisian soils.

A collection of 468 rhizobial isolates was obtained from different ecological areas of Tunisia by trapping them on Medicago sativa cv. Gabes, Medicago scutelleta cv. Kelson, Medicago truncatula, and Medicago ciliaris. A subsample of 134 rhizobia was chosen to determine their plasmid profile, and 89 isolates were subjected to multilocus enzyme electrophoresis (MLEE) and PCR/RFLP analysis using 16S, IGS (inter genic spacer), and nifKD probes. Twenty-five representatives from these isolates were evaluated for their nodulation and nitrogen fixation capacities. MLEE studies revealed two groups with highly heterogeneous host specificity and geographical origin. The discriminatory power was found to be slightly better with the amplified ribosomal intergenic region, than the nifKD genes. Divisions detected by nifKD amplified DNA analysis matched those established by ribosomal PCR- RFLPs. The comparison between different analyses revealed that MLEE illustrated better phenotypic properties of isolates than PCR-RFLP or plasmid content analysis. Clear distinction between Sinorhizobium meliloti and Sinorhizobium medicae were observed by analysis of the IGS symbiotic regions between nifD and nifK genes. Were able to distinguish three inoculation groups; isolates trapped from M. sativa cv. Gabes and M. scutelleta cv. Kelson formed one inoculation group which was more closely related to isolates trapped from M. truncatula than those trapped from M. ciliaris.

DNA, Intergenic↗
PubMed2001

Collaborative development of a new course and service in Sri Lanka.

Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) has a long established service development and research programme with Sri Lankan colleagues. The Centre for International Child Health (CICH) is an academic unit with public health interests in the countries of the South. Together a group of collaborators at GOSH, CICH and in Sri Lanka worked together to plan how a cadre of health workers could be prepared to work with people with communication disabilities. This is not an uncommon aim in under-served countries and there is a small published literature about the courses which have been developed. Choices about models for training, service delivery and ensuring sustainability in emerging services for people with communication disabilities are complex. Links can be made with development work in other disciplines. The literature relating to these issues in countries such as Sri Lanka is examined.

Developing Countries↗
PubMed2001

Improving neonatal transport in the Third World--technology or teaching?

Neonatal transport in the Third World remains hazardous because of a shortage of human and material resources. An audit of the transportation of 126 surgically ill neonates was undertaken to identify areas where improvement is possible. Failure to maintain simple interventions such as intravenous fluid replacement and nasogastric drainage were found to be more important than inadequate technology in defining the status of the patient on arrival. Investment in education is likely to pay greater dividends than further technological advances.

Developing Countries↗
PubMed2001

Anastomotic aneurysm following aortobifemoral bypass.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to establish the incidence of anastomotic aneurysm following aortobifemoral bypass and to document management of this condition in our practice. DESIGN: This is a prospective study of anastomotic aneurysms developing in patients with aortobifemoral bypasses followed up for 49 months. SETTING: Two tertiary referral hospitals served by the Durban Metropolitan Vascular Service. PATIENTS: Four hundred and ninety-two patients underwent aortobifemoral bypass. Anastomotic aneurysms (N = 25) developed in 23 patients. Presence of anastomotic aneurysm was confirmed by Doppler ultrasound. INTERVENTIONS: All patients underwent aneurysm repair. RESULTS: Operations performed were: excision and interposition graft (15), re-suture (6), tube graft (1), crossover (1), graft-popliteal bypass (1) and ligation (1). There were no deaths and no recurrences. Wound infections occurred in 2 patients and occlusion of the opposite limb occurred in 1. CONCLUSION: Anastomotic aneurysms following aortobifemoral bypass are uncommon. They commonly occur as a result of anastomotic disruption. Management includes repair or excision, depending on the prevailing circumstances, and can be performed with good results.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

A simple telemedicine system using a digital camera.

Radiographs on a viewing box were photographed at a remote hospital in South Africa using a digital camera with a resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels at 24-bit colour depth. The resultant images were stored in JPEG format and transmitted as email attachments to be read on a PC monitor by radiologists in Durban and Cape Town. Twenty-seven images were received, of which 23 were of diagnostic quality (85%). The mean file size was 120 kByte. For quality control purposes, 100 chest radiographs were photographed at a base hospital and read by a radiologist blinded to the diagnosis. In this study 96 images were of diagnostic quality (96%) and the correct diagnosis was made in 90 cases (94%). Incorrect readings were made in six cases (6%): small pulmonary nodules (less than 1 cm in diameter) were missed in five cases and in one case early apical tuberculosis was missed. Digital camera technology permits simple, inexpensive telemedicine. Limited spatial resolution is a concern when reading chest images with small pulmonary nodules and infiltrates.

Humans↗
PubMed2000

Dental arch relationships in Yorkshire children with unilateral cleft lip and palate.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the dental arch relationships of children with a complete unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP), born consecutively between 1983 and 1987, who had undergone primary cleft repair in the West Yorkshire region of the United Kingdom. The treatment outcome of this UCLP sample was then compared with the results of a previously published intercenter European study. DESIGN: A retrospective study with standardized record collection and blind assessment. SETTING: Regional dental hospital providing secondary and tertiary health care to the local population. PATIENTS: 35 UCLP patients whose primary repair had been performed within West Yorkshire. INTERVENTIONS: Dental casts obtained for each subject within 12 months of their 10th birthday. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The West Yorkshire models were randomly mixed with an anonymous sample of 115 UCLP cases from other cleft centers in the U.K. The dental arch relationships of the 10-year-old models were assessed by applying the Goslon Yardstick. RESULTS: One-third of the West Yorkshire cleft sample were rated as belonging to Goslon group 2 (good result), another third to group 3 (fair result), and the remaining third to groups 4 and 5 (poor/very poor result). Numerically, the results were of a slightly higher standard than that previously published for other U.K. and European cleft centers but were inferior to the treatment outcome of two European centers. No statistically significant differences were found between the outcome results of the West Yorkshire group and the other cleft centers. CONCLUSIONS: These results provide useful baseline data against which progress in achieving improved treatment outcome for West Yorkshire UCLP children can be determined by future research.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2000

[Long-term evaluation of bilateral alveolar bone grafting].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the long-term result of the bilateral alveolar bone grafting. METHODS: Fifty-five consecutive complete bilateral cleft lip and palate patients (36 males and 19 females) who had alveolar bone grafting were included in this study. The total number of cleft sites was 110. Cancellous bone from the iliac crest was grafted into the alveolar cleft areas. The cleft sites were studied in two groups according to whether the cleft canine had erupted prior to bone grafting or not. Anterior occlusal radiographs were taken before and after bone grafting. The minimum period of observation after alveolar bone grafting was one year. Criteria described by Bergland et al. (1986) were utilised to assess the height of the interdental septum. RESULTS: The results showed that bone grafting before canine eruption has a higher clinical success rate (95%) compared with that carried out after canine eruption (67%). CONCLUSION: The critical variable affecting the quality of bilateral alveolar bone grafting is the timing of the surgery.

Adolescent↗